System for identifying premature rupture of membrane during pregnancy

Abstract

An article for the identification of the premature rupture of a membrane during pregnancy is disclosed. In its preferred embodiment, the article comprises a pad having an upper outer layer, a lower outer layer, and an intermediate pH-responsive component. A double-sided adhesive strip is attached to the lower outer layer. The upper outer layer is composed of a liquid permeable material. Intermediate of the upper out layer and the inner outer layer is a pH-sensitive component. This intermediate layer is a pH-sensitive material and may be one of a variety of such materials, although a preferred material is nitrazine paper. In the presence of an alkaline fluid, such as amniotic fluid, the pH-sensitive material responds by turning to a purple-blue color. The change in color acts as a visual indicator to the wearer of the possible presence of amniotic fluid outside of the amniotic sac. As an alternate embodiment, the article may be fitted with a slide for gathering amniotic fluid, thus allowing the examining physician to make a visual evaluation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane during pregnancy for use with a pants of a wearer, the system comprising: a pad for placement in the crotch portion of the pants of the wearer, the pad including an upper layer and a lower layer; and   a microscope-visualizable slide fitted to said pad.   
     
     
       2. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said slide is a sheet of a flexible plastic. 
     
     
       3. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said upper layer of said pad is composed of a pH-sensitive material. 
     
     
       4. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 3, wherein said pH-sensitive material is a sheet of nitrazine treated material. 
     
     
       5. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 4, wherein said nitrazine-treated material is a sheet of nitrazine paper. 
     
     
       6. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, further including at least one adhesive strip provided on said lower layer of said pad. 
     
     
       7. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said upper layer is liquid-permeable. 
     
     
       8. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said lower layer is at least partially liquid-impermeable. 
     
     
       9. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said lower layer is liquid absorbent. 
     
     
       10. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said upper layer includes a plurality of fluid-passing fenestrations. 
     
     
       11. The system for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 1, wherein said upper layer defines at least two strips for holding said slide to said lower layer. 
     
     
       12. A pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane during pregnancy for use with the pants of a wearer, the pad comprising: an upper layer;   an intermediate component;   a lower layer, whereby said intermediate component is fitted between said upper and lower layers, said intermediate component being a microscope-visualizable slide.   
     
     
       13. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 12, wherein said intermediate component is a sheet of a flexible plastic. 
     
     
       14. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 9, wherein said pad comprises a pH-sensitive component, and wherein said pH-sensitive component is in liquid form. 
     
     
       15. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 14, wherein said pH-sensitive component is nitrazine treated material. 
     
     
       16. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 15, wherein said nitrazine-treated material is a sheet of nitrazine paper. 
     
     
       17. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 12, further including at least one adhesive strip provided on said lower layer. 
     
     
       18. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 12, wherein said upper layer is liquid-permeable. 
     
     
       19. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 12, wherein said lower layer is at least partially liquid-impermeable. 
     
     
       20. The pad for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane according to claim 12, wherein said lower layer is liquid absorbent. 
     
     
       21. A method for identifying the premature rupture of a membrane during pregnancy, the method comprising the steps of: forming a pad for use in the pants of a wearer;   fitting said pad with a microscope-visualizable slide;   wearing said pad with said slide for a select period of time; and   visualizing said slide to determine the physical presence of material which would indicate said premature rupture.